Closure for bottles and the like



March 19, 1929. J sc 5R 1,706,209

CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed April 27, 1928 //\/\/NTOP.' JOHN.5. 51/6014, 54;.

Patented Mar, 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. BUSCH, SR., OF WASHINGTON, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TOAUGUST A. BUSCH, SE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed April 27, 1928. Serial No. 273,236.

This invention relates to closures for bottles and containers, andparticularly, to closures of the type that consist of a cap, constructedusually of metal, and a gasket interposed between the cap and theopposed end of the bottle or other container on which the closure isused, so as to form an air-tight joint between the bottle and the cap.

It is now practically the universal custom to use cork to form thegaskets of closures of the general type above mentioned. Cork isrelatively expensive, it can be obtained only in certain localities, anddue to the tannic acid in same, it sometimes has a deleterious effect onthe liquid in the bottles on which the closures are used.

I have discovered that pith, i. e., the sponge-like substance in cornstalks, corn cobs and in the stems of certain plants, is admirablyadapted for use as the gasket of a C sure of the particular type abovementioned, due to the fact that pith is less expensive than cork, it iseasy to obtain practically in any desired quantities in variouslocalities, it has sufficient compressibility to insure its forming anefficient sealing device between the cap of the closure and the bottleor other container on which the closure is used, and it containsnovingredient or substance that has a deleterious effect on liquids ofthe kind that are usually put up for sale or distribution in bottles.Accordingly, I have devised a closure for bottles and the like thatconsists of a cap formed of metal or other suitable impervious material,and a gasket or pad formed of pith obtained from corn stalks, corn cobsor plant stems, combined with said cap in such a Way that when the capis applied to the bottle or other container, the gasket will becompressed between the cap and the end of the bottle neck, therebyforming an air-tight joint between said parts. My invention isapplicable particularly to closures of the type that are commonlyreferred to as crown seal closures, but it is also applicable to variousother kinds of closures.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of the cap or imperviousmember of my improved closure.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the gasket or pad of pith that isarranged inside of the cap.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional View of the complete closure; and

Figure 4 is a perspective View, part-1y broken away, illustrating myinvention embodied in a closure of slightly different form from the oneillustrated in Figure 3.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, which illustrate the preferred form of myinvention, A

deslgnates a metal cap that has a disk-shaped central portion providedat its peripheral edge with a depending crimped flange 1 and Bdes1gnates a gasket or pad constructed of pith, arranged in engagementwith the inner face of the central portion of the cap and surrounded bythe flange 1, the said cap being adapted to be applied to a bottle byexerting pressure on the cap in a direction to compress the gasket Bbetween the cap and the end face of the neck of the bottle and force theflange 1 on the cap over a rib on the bottle neck.

As previously stated, the gasket B is constructed from 1pith obtainedfrom corn stalks, corn cobs or p ant stems. It can be produced either bycutting a solid core from a stalk, stem or corn cob, and then slicingsaid core into disk-shaped sections, or it can be produced by grindingup pith of the kind mentioned and then molding it into disk-shapedgaskets of the form shown in Figure 2.

In Figure 4 I have illustrated another type of closure embodying myinvention, that is adapted to be used on jars, said closure consistingof a flanged metal cap A that is adapted to be held in operativeposition on a jar by a suitable retaining device (not shown), and agasket or pad B formed of pith of the kind mentioned, arranged on theinside of the cap in such a position that it will be compressed betweenthe cap and the end of the jar during the operation of apply ing the capto the jar.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A gasket or pad for closures of the kind referred to, formed frompith in the nature ofbthat obtained from corn stalks and corn 00 s.

2. In a closure of the type that comprises a metal cap which is adaptedto be secured to the container on which the closure is used, a gasket orpad constructed of pith in the nature of that obtained from corn stalksand corn co'bs, interposed between the container and the cap.

3. A gasket or pad'for bottle'closures of the type that comprises ametal cap, consist ing of a disk-shaped member constructed of pith inthe nature of that obtained from corn stalks and corn cobs.

JOHN B. BUSGH, SR.

